To foster national innovation, Brazil enacted the Innovation Law (Law No. 10,973/2004), which established Technological Innovation Centers within Scientific, Technological, and Innovation Institutions. Initially tasked with managing institutional innovation policies, these centers gained expanded responsibilities under Law No. 13,243/2016, strengthening their role in strategic innovation management. Despite these advances, implementation still faces institutional challenges, including limited recognition of innovation’s importance, bureaucratic barriers, and insufficient human resources. This study evaluates the performance of the Innovation Center at the Federal University of Paraíba (INOVA/UFPB) in the national context following the 2016 Legal Framework for Science, Technology, and Innovation. A literature review on obstacles and benefits associated with the legislation was conducted, alongside a case study based on institutional document analysis. Findings indicate that INOVA/UFPB possesses structural conditions supporting autonomy and exhibits strong performance in invention patents, ranking first nationally for two consecutive years. Nonetheless, challenges remain, including limited program visibility and difficulties in providing training and mentoring. A SWOT analysis guided the center’s evaluation, leading to proposed improvement actions, such as establishing innovation residency programs and strengthening partnerships with the private sector. In conclusion, while INOVA/UFPB shows significant potential for knowledge generation and technology transfer, its further development depends on addressing institutional obstacles, expanding partnerships, and enhancing market engagement.

Abstract

This research aimed to analyze the critical points of the thermoplastic injection process in the production sector of PHX, focusing on maintenance management and identifying the main failures, operational bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement. The investigation was conducted through a case study, using participant observation, document analysis, maintenance indicators, and equipment performance evaluation based on the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) index. The injection sector was chosen due to its strategic relevance within the production flow, as failures in this stage directly affect equipment availability, product quality, and the achievement of production targets. The data collected revealed that the injection process operates within a high technical complexity environment, depending on essential variables such as temperature, pressure, cooling time, raw material quality, and mold conditions. The diagnosis showed the predominance of hydraulic, electrical, and thermal failures, premature mold wear, insufficient lubrication, unplanned downtime, and excessive setup time during mold changes. The prevalence of corrective actions and the lack of standardized routines for inspection and cleaning contributed to reduced availability and increased operational costs. The OEE analysis indicated that PHX does not reach satisfactory levels, especially in availability and performance. Based on these findings, the study proposed a set of interventions aligned with the principles of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), preventive and predictive maintenance practices, and modern asset management standards. Suggested actions include the implementation of a structured preventive maintenance plan, the use of condition-monitoring sensors (temperature, vibration, pressure), creation of operational checklists, standardized lubrication routines, failure control spreadsheets, deployment of real-time OEE dashboards, and continuous training of operators to strengthen autonomous maintenance. Moreover, the study highlights the need for greater integration among maintenance, production, and planning departments to ensure aligned priorities and reduce unplanned stoppages. It is concluded that adopting these measures has the potential to significantly increase the reliability of injection machines, optimize the production flow, and reduce costs related to recurrent failures. The research demonstrates that the injection sector, when managed preventively and collaboratively, becomes more efficient, predictable, and competitive, contributing directly to the company’s operational sustainability.